Hampton Falls fire chief touts new app

HAMPTON FALLS — It's been a year since CodeRED was put into use by the state of New Hampshire, and though the mobile app is one of the most pragmatic tools employed by emergency departments in the modern age, not very many people know about it.

Comment

By Max Sullivan

seacoastonline.com

By Max Sullivan

Posted Jun. 24, 2014 at 2:00 AM

By Max Sullivan

Posted Jun. 24, 2014 at 2:00 AM

» Social News

HAMPTON FALLS — It's been a year since CodeRED was put into use by the state of New Hampshire, and though the mobile app is one of the most pragmatic tools employed by emergency departments in the modern age, not very many people know about it.

That's what Hampton Falls Fire Chief Jay Lord is trying to change. He went down to the town's selectmen meeting Wednesday, June 18, to talk about getting the word out.

"What we're pushing is to get people to sign up so if we have to inform them or there is a major tornado coming at them, or a monster blizzard, we can advise them," Lord said.

With its design based off of a previous product called Reverse 911, CodeRED is available in the form of a cell phone application that can be downloaded through the cell phone provider's app store. Within seconds, users can be registered via e-mail and telephone, both home and cell, into a network that allows police and fire departments to send them alerts in case of an emergency.

The problem is, not many people are registered right now. Two weeks ago, police notified residents near the Kensington area that an armed man was on the loose, telling them to stay inside and lock their doors. Lord got the notification on his cell phone, but he knew that many residents did not.

"Not a lot of people got that message because a lot of people weren't signed up," Lord said.

Lord recalled a situation that occurred in 2004, where a severe storm at Hampton Falls' Wakeda Campground left ten people injured, one tragically dying.

With CodeRED, Lord said more of these situations will be preventable.

"Today if I had that product, I would definitely be sending out messages to the camp ground and everyone in town," Lord said. "All of a sudden, I don't have to drive around with a PA. I can just call up the campground and say it."